I really enjoyed this film. It’s in the style of a classic bio-pic, only it focuses on the younger years of Joan Jett’s career. It’s not all about Joan Jett though. It’s based on a book Cherie Currie wrote about her beginnings in The Runaways, called “Neon Angel: The Cherie Currie Story”, which I didn’t know going into the film.
Dakota Fanning, who plays Cherie, is easily one of the best things about “The Runaways”. She was 15 when they shot it, which is the age of her character. I love that! Kristen Stewart and Michael Shannon were great too, but Dakota Fanning made the movie worth seeing. It’s set in the 70s, mainly in L.A., but it doesn’t focus on the setting. It was refreshingly subtle in that respect. And the music was awesome, of course.
Having said that… I came out of the theater deflated. This was a story about an all-girl rock band, and a woman who really broke down walls, directed by a woman. I know that shouldn’t matter in the least— if the film had been directed by a man I still would have the same problems with it. But, because of the subject matter, I really wanted to see something here from Floria Sigismondi that I would remember and would inspire me, the way that the songs make you want to dance. It felt like Sigismondi was trying to stick to the facts. I wanted more time inside the minds of Joan and Cherie, I guess.
I give it an 8. Very good, but won’t change your life.
It’s coming out in mid-March I believe!
